Bragging rights at stake: Teams gear up for Guardian Challenge 2006The Guardian Challenge competition will be held May 7-12 at Vandenberg AFB, CA...

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –The Guardian Challenge competition will be held May 7-12.

Guardian Challenge is a competition comprised of a variety of events in which Air Force Space Command pits wing against wing in a head-to-head competition in individual mission categories at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Each mission winner is awarded a different trophy.

The Guardian Challenge planning team, comprised of a vast group of wing members, meets on a regular basis to ensure no stone is left unturned.

“We intend to make this the best Guardian Challenge to date, not only on the logistics side, but when we show up in Vandenberg as well,” Colonel Wolf said.

Additional Guardian Challenge Awards:

Best Operations Crew Trophy: Presented to members of the best operations crew in missile operations, spacelift operations (launch group and operations group) and space operations (space warning, space surveillance and satellite operations). Crews achieving the highest percentage of available points in each award category receive these awards.

Best Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Maintenance Team: Presented to members of the ICBM maintenance team achieving the highest percentage of available points during the competition. Best element teams are also recognized and presented their trophies.

Best Security Forces Team: Presented to members of the security forces team achieving the highest combined score in the security forces competition. Security forces compete head-to-head across all mission areas in tactics, combat marksmanship and obstacle course exercises.

Best Missile Communications Team: Presented to members of the missile communications team achieving the highest percentage of available points during the competition.

Best Space Communications Team: Presented to members of the space communications team achieving the highest percentage of available points during the competition.

Best Helicopter Team: Presented to members of the helicopter team achieving the highest combined score in the helicopter competition. All helicopter events are competed head-to-head across all mission areas.

Best Chef Team: Presented to members of the chef team achieving the highest percentage of available points during the competition.

Best Code Controller Team: Presented to members of the code controller team achieving the highest percentage of available points during the competition.

Other awards may be presented at the discretion of the non-appropriated funds commander at no cost to Headquarters AFSPC and outside the official Guardian Challenge schedule of events.

625th Strategic Operations Squadron Activated at Offutt AFBJun. 14, 2007By 55th Wing Public AffairsIn a ceremony held today in the shadow of the Minuteman I Intercontinental Ballistic Missile outside USSTRATCOM Headquarters, Major General Thomas Deppe, commander Twentieth Air Force and STRATCOM Task Force 214 activated the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron. The 625th is a tenant unit on Offutt AFB and reports directly to 20 AF, located at Frances E. Warren AFB in Wyoming.

US Responds to Putin's Call for Meeting on Forces in EuropeMay 29, 2007By Al Pessin, VOA WashingtonA Pentagon spokesman says the United States would be "disappointed" if Russia stopped meeting its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. The comment came the day after Russia called for a meeting of the treaty's signatory nations next month. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.